Author's Note: Yay, finally made it. didn't take me too long. The lyrics really held me up this time. Anyway. I don't know if I can fit it all in only two more chapters. I don't want to rush it and that's what I feel like i"m doing. So we might have 41 or even 42 chapters for an ending. But either way we're still close. thanks for sticking with me now that we are going on two years. crazy, it feels like I just said one year gone... man oh man. anyway. Thank you for the new comers, your comments give me smiles :D
Chapter 38- Lost
Just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost, doesn't mean I'll stop. Just because I'm hurting doesn't mean I'm hurt.
Ino pressed herself tight against the wall, preying that her heart would stop pounding lest someone heard the drumming and alerted them of her presence. She held her breath, her body shook, and her eyes shut tight hoping this would not be the end of her life.
The footsteps were fading. She lifted her trembling hand to peak out the window, pulling the curtain just barely to the side and breathed a sigh of relief when the black cloak vanished behind a corner.
Ino lifted the trap door with gentleness and shut it even quieter. She took a deep breath in and reassured herself she was alive. A crazy smile was on her lips. Her eyes lifted and located the small candle that was fifty feet away and her jubilant attitude vanished.
She walked to the group, throwing one of the towels in her hand to Kiba who quickly snatched it and wrapped it tight around Akamaru's torn leg. The dog whined pathetically laid out on the stone ground. Kiba gently patted his head, smiling with reassurance. "You're okay, buddy." He whispered.
"They're getting closer." Ino told them but from the silent reply Neji had apparently already told them. She knelled beside Kiba. "You should be more concerned with yourself." She told him, pressing the second towel up against his side.
He winced visibly and held it there as he sat down, smiling down to Akamaru who whimpered again, silently asking if he was okay. Kiba nodded lightly and ran a hand over the dog's back, smoothing out the ruffled hair.
Ino bit her lip staring at Kiba's wound with wide expressed worry in her gaze. Her chakra however was limited. She had used up all of her reserves for TenTen. Not that it had done much she supposed. TenTen had been screaming, crying, yelling, whimpering for the first few minutes they found this empty shelter. Ino had dug deep with her healing powers but she wasn't sure she had done anything despite Neji telling her she had done enough. She would have believed he was just telling her that to be nice but then again it was the Hyuuga she was talking about.
Then again Neji was an altogether different person in her eyes now. Seeing TenTen suffering as he had, had done something. He had been speaking to her, holding her, whispering words of encouragement and rocking her shaking body. It had been amazing to see someone as cold as Neji become so gentle to another person.
Sadly, it had made her shake with jealousy. If she hadn't been concentrating so much on trying to heal TenTen, she would have given into tears.
Ino shook herself. She knew where her head needed to be. She may have been useless on the battlefield but she'd be damned if she couldn't help her teammates in other forms. "Let me see if I have any chakra left." She put her hands upon Kiba's side but Kiba stalled her with his own. Ino looked up confused.
"Save it, for her." His eyes motioned to the corner.
Ino felt tears prick her eyes but she smiled and pulled away. She dropped down on the other side of the fire, laying there for only moment to gather her emotions together. What had TenTen been thinking! She had more reason to be alive and free then Ino! She had someone who loved her! How could she risk her life for her, who had no one and nothing!
Ino pushed herself to sit up. She would not wallow in self-pity damn it.
Her hand dug around in her pocket for a moment before tossing a small vile toward Neji. The young Hyuuga caught it tiredly but was too exhausted to question. She smiled sadly, "It's a strong herb. It should calm her."
Neji dropped his pale lavender eyes to the woman that laid beside him. Her head rested on his lap. He lifted the small wet clothe in his hand and tenderly patted her sweaty brow. But it was right then TenTen grimaced. Ino ran to her side, preparing to pin the female down but then TenTen relaxed. Ino quickly brought her fingers to the female's neck, checking for a pulse and sighed with relief when she felt one. Ino shook her head, her hands fisting on her thighs as she gazed down at the female. She squeezed her eyes shut. "Why?" She whispered barely above a whisper. "Why won't he just kill her? Why is he doing this?" Tears threatened but she pulled them back and left her side to lay back on her mat, swinging an arm over her eyes to hide her cries.
Kiba's eyes were drifting shut as he leaned against Akamaru, exhaustion and blood loss was making him sleepy. He forced his voice to speak. "At least we got her." He sighed, taking a sip of water then pouring water into Akamaru's mouth who weakly lapped it up. "We just need to rest and then we'll get those two."
Ino gazed at the fire. "I thought they only traveled in pairs." She mumbled.
"They had come only after we killed that girl. I don't think Itachi and Kisame were suppose to be here."
"Itachi." Ino bit pounding the stone ground. Her eyes momentarily drifting over to TenTen.
A voice from the darkness sounded, "You should all leave here." The female Arashi whispered. Kiba and Ino turned their gaze to her but quickly dropped it. She sat alone, representing their failure. "I will not have your lives on my hands as well"
"Your brother and sister are still alive. Don't give up yet."
"I'm powerless without them. I can't help you anymore."
"That's fine. We did fine against the last one."
Arashi shook her head, "No." She pointed to Neji. "He did fine."
Ino narrowed her eyes, "We are a team. Each member holds their own weight."
"Some more then others." She bit back.
"You little-"
"Shut up." Kiba growled, barring his fangs with annoyance. "We are a team. And we are not out of this yet."
Arashi rolled her 'x' eyes, "Comes from a boy bleeding to death. How reassuring."
"Then I will die fighting. At least I won't be like you. Giving up." He scoffed, "Won't Raikou and Kaminari be so proud."
"I'd much rather die then live alone and on the run. Are we that different?"
Kiba snapped his gaze away, petting his whining partner soothingly. He glanced down at the towel in his hands. Only five minutes had past and the towel was already soaked with his blood. He shifted so no one else could see it.
Ino sighed, the silence eating at her. She peaked a glance at TenTen, the woman tense, her skin sweaty and pale. Ino lifted her gaze to Neji. The Hyuuga relaxed with his back against the wall, his head leaned back too with closed eyes. A hand laid on TenTen's neck, a constant surveillance of her heart while he rested.
She darted her eyes away, disgusted by the feeling of jealousy that built up inside her. She shook her head, hating herself for feeling such. "I hope this buys some time for Naruto." She whispered.
Kiba smiled, "I thought he would have showed up by now."
Ino knit her brows. "Nani?"
Kiba shrugged, closing his eyes. "I thought he'd be on his way to save us."
She smiled, hugging her knees to her chest. "Yeah, he's like that, isn't he? I hope he beats them when they come for him. He'll be a great Hokage."
"They found us." Neji whispered just before a blast tore through their hideout.
Naruto didn't realize how far he was from the village now. He silently cursed himself for giving in. He shouldn't have given this chance to Sasuke. He should have just concentrated on Sakura and her alone. But knowing that Itachi was going to be there, he couldn't allow it without letting Sasuke know. His conscience would have ate at him.
Hinata had listened in on a conversation. The jutsu that was planted on the bottom of Sasuke's foot would allow whoever activated it to be transported in his vicinity. It was the great escape for him to get out of Konoha. The only downside however was not having the slightest clue to where he was. It had taken him nearly an hour to get his bearings on the land but now he knew where he was, it was only a few hours to the Lightning border. And then the fight of his life was going to take place. He just hoped Sakura was safe and unharmed. Kami, he didn't think he would be able to keep the beast inside if something happened to that girl.
Shikamaru was in charge of the team heading to Lightning. Well he had been until news had it that Naruto had somehow snuck out of the village. Now Asuma, and all the leaders of the Rookies were coming along for the ride. This was going to be an amazing battle. His mind kept going over all the information he had about Itachi and Kisame looking for whatever weak spot he could find.
Yet he really wasn't making any progress. His thoughts strayed constantly to Ino. He cursed under his breath knowing when he saw her again he was going to…do nothing probably but man did he want to curse in her general direction. How could she be so stupid? She lacked so much common sense it was infuriating.
It had to be her blond genes. That was the only excuse she had.
The sun was low in the sky by the time Naruto made it to the spot they planned to kill him. He stayed hidden in the trees trying to figure out where Sakura was. He couldn't see her anywhere. His attention was being pulled in the village's direction distracting him from making any plans. Large chakra signatures were being amplified in the distance. The team that had been sent were in that place fighting those massive enemies and he was incapable of helping. As bad as he felt about it, Sakura was his only big concern. They would have to wait for the extra help to arrive. He preyed they were able to last that long.
Naruto took a deep breath. He didn't know the exact time but the position of the sun told him he should finish this. Even if it was the last thing he does, he was going to save Sakura.
Naruto jumped down out into the open. Two of them appeared like magic right before the cliff's edge. Their black cloaks billowing with red clouds revealing just who they were. Akatsuki. "Where is she!" He yelled across the dry land. He could feel his bijuu toss inside him. The fear of death approaching was making him wild with desperation. Pulses of his chakra were hitting his veins causing horrible flashes of pain. But Naruto just fisted his hands to keep himself in check.
The land beneath his feet trembled. A crack formed and slowly began to stretch in width. Pebbles wiggled on the dirt ground and crashes were heard below from rock slides. Naruto wasn't dumb enough to believe it was a natural earthquake. He glared ahead of him, keeping his eyes glued to their forms incase they moved.
Arrival of pink caught his attention.
From between the large crack, A pole rose on it's own accord. And hung to this pole was Sakura. Naruto's heart plummeted into his stomach. Her arms were stretched out to their limits, large metal nails had been pounded into her shoulders and another set drilled into her palms. It was what kept her secured to the wooden cross. Blood had leaked from the four gruesome wounds, soaking her shirt going down her long thin legs and had dripped off her bare toes.
The worst of it however was finally noticing that the blood had all been dry. She must have been like that for over an hour. There was no chance that she was alive.
Naruto felt the beast roar inside him, his chakra bursting with a violent scream. The bijuu scratched at his cages, banging his head against the bars, spewing forth its surging power. It screamed to be released. It begged to kill. It promised revenge. All he had to do was let go.
"Oh calm down." A female scowled behind him. "She's alive."
Naruto whipped his red eyes finding the similar color glaring back at him. She adjusted her glasses, folding her arms. "Who are you?" He knew it to be Sasuke's partner.
The woman shrugged. "A friend. Now what you need to do is get her down and bring her to me." Karin sat promptly, folding her legs under her. Hand seals flashed in front of her, markings began to appear on her face and arms.
"What are you doing?"
"Nevermind that. Just do your job."
Naruto looked out ahead of him. Knowing Sakura was still living while hung like that made his stomach crawl. He ran, foolhardily for her. "Sakura!" He was blinded now by his need to help. Kisame appeared in front of him, having traveled over four hundred feet in less than a second. Naruto slid on the dirt floor before the large sword hit the ground in front of him. His wide fang grin gave a hardy chuckle.
Naruto jumped back, producing a hand seal. His hundred copies popped into existence.
The moment she heard his voice, her consciousness swam to the surface. She had forced her mind into a meditative state so as not to let the blood loss shock her system. But coming from it now only allowed her a minute before her body reacquainted itself from within and the pain would alert the mind that she was injured.
With her reserved massive strength, Sakura yanked her wrist, pulling the kunai out of the wood. The metal dropped to the ground. Using that free hand which had a gapping hole dripping with fresh blood, Sakura grabbed a hold of the metal bar stuck in her shoulder and screamed harshly as she pulled it out of her body. Her left side went limp. Her right arm was still attached to the cross. She felt her muscles and skin stretch with the weight. Her mind snapped at attention.
She could have died right then the pain was so great. Death was what she wished for. Her left arm was soaked in blood, her other arm still attached to the wood. She was losing feeling along with unconsciousness. Sleep was knocking, willing her to close her eyes, promising it will be painless. It couldn't promise her however that she would ever wake again.
Sakura concentrated. She opened the doors to her life preserve, a technique taught to her by Tsunade. Black lines drew angles across her skin, swirling and twisting igniting the techniques power to come forth. With a quick grasp, Sakura tore the bar from her shoulder. Her body fell, the last nail falling from the sudden force of gravity. She ripped it out of her palm, her form dropping to the ground in exhaustion. The lines began their healing but she cut it off. They quickly disappeared. She didn't want to waste all of her healing powers on herself. There was still a battle ahead.
Sakura stared up at the sky. The most beautiful colors painted the clouds. The sun was setting. Her chest heaved with much needed air, helping to ease the terrible pain. A bird flew across her view and smile tilted her lips some. It was a beautiful evening.
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled again.
Sakura paid no mind. She was happy where she was. Still and unmoving. It would be a bliss to take a nap.
It was the noise that began to reawaken her sense. Passing out would be nice but it wasn't going to happen. She needed to get up. She needed to run. She wasn't safe here. There was a battle going on around her now that she paid attention to it. Grunts and yells. Naruto's sharp voice calling to her.
Sakura tensed her body to roll over, but she could only scream in agony. Tears welled into her eyes and her lips trembled. Still she forced herself over. Blood gushed from her wounds. She could see the puddles of bright red upon the dirt ground. She should have allowed herself to heal better but if she could get to safety she could wrap up her wounds and save her chakra for someone else.
A blast caught her attention and she looked up finally and caught sight of Naruto standing before her. His legs at least were in view. She couldn't lift her head any higher. He faced her captures with a readied stance. "Sakura. Don't worry I'm here. I need you get up."
Sakura tensed herself to try and move, she could only groan. "I can't." She whimpered.
"That girl. Sasuke's teammate. She's just twenty feet away. It's too dangerous to leave you here. You have to get to her."
She shook her head helplessly, "I can't."
Another blast from the other direction. Naruto's feet shuffled as he turned himself around. Sasuke stood with his back to them. His feet parted, crouching in a fighting position. "Sakura." She flipped her head and managed this time to lift her gaze upward enough to catch only one of his red sharigan eyes. "Stand up." He demanded.
The fact that he was here, showing his face so soon after leaving her would have healed the wound in her heart had the pain of his desertion been weakened. The only reason he came now was to fight Itachi. She was not a factor. Sakura really knew this now. She didn't pretend that he had came for her. She didn't lie to herself.
Sakura took notice of Kisame dusting himself off in the distance, making his way back to the fight. A bright smile was on his face. She tilted her eyes to locate Itachi but she couldn't find him.
A battle was beginning and being as weak as she was now, staying around them was life threatening. Their chakras alone would crush her. She needed to get out of harms way.
Using only the strength left in her legs, Sakura struggled. She groaned and cried out, crashing to the ground. "Stand up." Sasuke commanded once again. She concentrated only on the pressure in her knees to rise her body up. It was the most painful thing she had ever done but finally she was able to sit straight, swaying with the wind. Her head whipped in circles, the blood loss made her weak and dizzy. Her arms hung useless at her sides, soaked in the red liquid.
"To Karin." Sasuke ordered. His metallic scrap of his sword sounded as he slowly slid it from it holster.
Sakura looked ahead and despite her blurred vision she could make out the red of Karin. It really wasn't too far but for her it was impossible. She pushed on her legs again to try and make herself move but her functions were non existence. She had lost too much blood now. But with Sasuke there she could allow no helplessness. Her teeth grit with a deep anger and deep desire to always prove stronger. Sakura realized then, she had gotten to her feet. She smiled ahead of her, hoping Sasuke was seeing it.
"Kuso." Naruto bit. "It's too late." He quickly put himself behind Sasuke and in front of Sakura. "Stay still, Sakura. This might hurt."
Kisame charged right at that moment with his Samehada. Sasuke braced himself against the rock floor as the weapon came down on him. Kisame's chakra soared, slamming into them like a mudslide. Sasuke's feet shifted yet he was not in the least bit taken off guard. He glared at the creature, waiting patiently.
The wave only weakened a forth of the power when it past to Naruto. His arms were crossed in front of him to guard himself and by pushing out his own power he tried to block whatever went through him and caught Sakura but by her screams of agony, he grimaced in defeat.
Sakura's sharp scream alerted Sasuke of his single minded thought process. He was not used to taking into account other people's frailty. Sasuke pushed the electric flow into his sword. Kisame only laughed when the power was eaten up. "Don't tell me you don't know Samehada's power, boy."
A quick reminder nonetheless, Sasuke huffed. He pushed his lightning back on his hands and let the bolts jump in sporadic disarray, knocking Kisame from the side. His form went flying back toward Itachi's body.
Sasuke turned back to Naruto, "To Karin." He ordered.
Naruto instantly lifted Sakura up in his arms, her body went limp. He would have laughed at her. She had struggled so much to prove to Sasuke her strength and now she was passed out in his arms. Naruto admired her so. He bid her to rest. He'll take care of her.
It had taken only five seconds but within that time frame, Kisame was back with bloodlust in his eyes. Naruto ran, Sasuke defended each attack Kisame tried to give. It was becoming quiet clear to him that Kisame was trying hard to kill Sakura. His killing intent was only directed at her. Sasuke needed to change that. He be damned if he was ignored any longer as an opponent.
It took just a blink to fill his chakra, the lightning surrounded him, embraced his sword and body and just as fast as light, blinked out and appeared behind, right before Kisame planned his next move. His long chokuto extended and pierced Kisame through the center sending thousands of bolts of electricity into his blood stream. Killing him instantly.
The body slumped to the ground.
Naruto, holding Sakura tight, turned with shock in his gaze, catching Sasuke's red eyes. The man stood calmly over the body of one of the most powerful men in history. Naruto was aghast, not knowing whether he should be proud of Sasuke. Or fear him.